Black Star Pastry, a renowned Australian pastry brand, has opened its first flagship store in China, designed by Linehouse. The Shanghai store is a fusion of dining, design, art and lifestyle, featuring a retail space on the first floor and a curated dining space on the second floor, with artistic installations creating a unique and immersive experience. The design seamlessly blends futuristic elements with nature, evoking a sense of wonder and tranquility. The store’s unique design and curated artistic installations make it a must-visit destination for those seeking a unique dining experience.
Black Star Pastry, a renowned Australian pastry brand, has opened its first flagship store in China, designed by Linehouse. The Shanghai store is a fusion of dining, design, art and lifestyle, featuring a retail space on the first floor and a curated dining space on the second floor. Located on the vibrant Wuyuan Road, the store is housed in a renovated red-brick townhouse. 
The first floor serves as the Black Star Pastry retail area, showcasing their signature cakes and coffee. The central display table features a captivating magnetic levitation display of space capsules, each showcasing a unique dessert exclusive to Shanghai. The retail space is punctuated by stainless-steel shelves showcasing an array of meteorites, creating a dramatic effect as they seemingly rise towards the ceiling, reminiscent of the vastness of space. A long table with the inscription “We Are All Just Stardust” evokes a sense of wonder and connects the space to the wider universe. 
The second floor, Black Star Gallery, is a curated dining space that serves as an afternoon tea lounge during the day and transforms into a cocktail bar at night. It’s designed to immerse visitors in a captivating artistic experience. Themed “Meta Habitat,” the space features four site-specific installations by renowned artists: Rowan Corkill, Olivia Steele, Debbie Lawson, and Naoko Ito.
The installations, each unique in its interpretation of nature and its relationship to the built environment, create a sense of otherworldly wonder. The combination of installations, metal mesh ceilings, and terrazzo floors creates a sense of being in an art gallery, where the boundaries between art and design are blurred.
The space also features a private dining room called “There There,” equipped with a private bar and intimate seating. The room features a blue metallic bar counter, distressed with acid etching, and a deep blue velvet curtain that provides a sense of privacy and seclusion. Black wooden floorboards extend to the walls, creating a stark contrast to the exposed concrete walls, while a stainless-steel curved backdrop serves as a display for the bar’s offerings.
The Black Star Pastry flagship store in Shanghai is a testament to the power of design and art to create a unique and immersive experience. Linehouse has skillfully combined elements of nature, science fiction, and contemporary art to create a space that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating. Visitors are invited to explore the space and discover a world beyond the ordinary.
Project Information:
Black Star Pastry Flagship Store, Shanghai, China
Space Type: Dining, Pastry Shop, Coffee Shop
Space Address: 1265 Wuyuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China
Average Consumption: 84 yuan/person
Creative Director & Art Director: Louis Li – Black Star Pastry
Design Company: Linehouse
Design Team: Mo Xiuman, Zhong Chengyou, Guo Yeling, Chen Rongli, Zhou Kaihang, Lin Yan
Graphic Design: Studio Ongarato / Noritake
Lighting Design: Studio Illumine
Floating Cake Display Stand: March Studio
Commissioned Artists: Olivia Steele, Naoko Ito, Rowan Corkill, Debbie Lawson
Artwork Production: UAP
Functional Lighting: Daye Lighting
Finished Furniture: Jieyi, Ge Du
Customized Furniture: Ao Guan
Project Client: Black Star Pastry
Project Area: 380 square meters
Main Materials: Terrazzo, Marble, Metal, Tile, Diatomaceous Earth, Wooden Floor, Metal Mesh
